When he had withdrawn into the smoke-room, where a brooding pipe would ill divert his mind from various wild speculations, the Master slid open his own cabin door, and extended a hand of welcome toward it.
"_Apres vous, monsieur!_" said he.
The A.C.B.officer entered, his vigorous, compact figure alive with energy, intelligence.

The Master followed, slid the door shut and motioned to a chair beside the desk.

This chair, of metal, was itself placed upon a metal plate.

The plate was new.

At our last sight of the cabin, it had not been there.
Taking off goggles and gauntlets, and throwing open his sheepskin jacket, the Frenchman sat down.